Marriage today
Today a Hindu wedding may last a week or an hour, take place in a temple, a banquet hall or a garden abroad, and mix customs from two regions when the couple come from different backgrounds. Many couples ask the priest to explain each mantra in their own language.
Whatever the scale, the essentials remain: the sacred fire as witness, the joining of hands, the seven steps, and the blessings of family. Registering the marriage under the law is also important for the couple's legal protection.